The famous civil rights leader who delivered the "I Have a Dream" speech at the Lincoln Memorial in 1963 was Martin Luther King Jr. This speech, given during the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom on August 28, 1963, became one of the most iconic moments in the American civil rights movement. King advocated for racial equality and justice while expressing his vision for a future free of discrimination and prejudice. His powerful rhetoric inspired millions and galvanized support for civil rights legislation, culminating in landmark laws like the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965.